Top 5 theatre openings: 12 – 18 December

5) Hedda Gabler

12 December to 21 March 2017, National Theatre

Ivo van Hove directs Luther star Ruth Wilson and Black Mirror's Rafe Spall in his National Theatre debut.

Patrick Marber's new version of Ibsen's work tells the story or a woman who has recently married, but is bored already and wants out.

4) Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes

14 December – 29 January 2017, Sadler's Wells

Based on the 1948 film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, choreographer Matthew Bourne adapts the story of a young ballerina who becomes the lead dancer in a new ballet called The Red Shoes.

Set to music by Bernard Herrmann with a new score arranged by Terry Davies, the production opened at Theatre Royal Plymouth last month.

3) Annie Get Your Gun

14 December – 21 January 2017, Sheffield Crucible

Anna-Jane Casey stars in Irving Berlin's Wild West musical about Annie Oakley and her romance with fellow sharpshooter Frank Butler.

The musical opened on Broadway in 1946, and at the London Coliseum the following year. This production will be directed by Paul Foster.

2) Mary Stuart

15 December to 21 January 2017, Almeida

Before every performance of Mary Stuart, Juliet Stevenson and Lia Williams will flip a coin to decide who takes the stage as Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I.

Actor Rudi Dharmalingam told WhatsOnStage that the cast have effectively been rehearsing two different versions of the production.

1) Dreamgirls

14 December to 6 May 2017, Savoy Theatre

Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know Amber Riley and co. have been making a lot (a LOT) of noise about this one. Making its West End debut, Dreamgirls opens at the Savoy with a cast that boasts Liisi LaFontaine, Ibinabo Jack and Tyrone Huntley star alongside Riley.